OAKLAND -- Having conceded the No.1 overall seed, the Warriors once again will be in evaluation mode Tuesday when they face the Indiana Pacers at Oracle Arena.
Clobbered by injuries to their All-Stars over the past three weeks, the Warriors (54-19) have lost five of eight and are fairly locked into the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Of the absent All-Stars, Draymond Green is closest to returning and he's not likely to play Tuesday.
Coach Steve Kerr made it clear that this point of the season is about observing the progress of reserves during the run-up to the playoffs.
The Pacers (43-31), picked by most to finish out of the playoff race, have been perhaps the most surprising team in the league. They clinched their seventh playoff berth in eight seasons with a victory over Miami on Sunday.
BETTING LINE
Pacers by 7.5
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Sports
Pat McCaw & Co. vs. Victor Oladipo: No one has contributed more to the success of Indiana this season than Oladipo, a 6-foot-4 guard from Indiana. He is averaging a team-leading 23.3 ppg, 5.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and a league-high 2.25 steals -- the only player in the NBA averaging 20-5-4-2. His name will appear on some MVP ballots. McCaw will be among three Warriors tasked with defending him, as Andre Iguodala and Nick Young also will get opportunities.
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: G Quinn Cook (L knee contusion) is listed as probable. F/C Chris Boucher (L ankle sprain), F Omri Casspi (R ankle sprain) and F Draymond Green (flu-like symptoms) are listed as doubtful. F Kevin Durant (R rib soreness). G Stephen Curry (R MCL sprain) and G Klay Thompson (R thumb fracture) are listed as out.
Pacers: F Domantas Sabonis (L ankle sprain) is listed as doubtful.
LAST 10
Warriors: 5-5. Pacers: 6-4.
GAME OFFICIALS
Ed Malloy (crew chief), Curtis Blair, Ron Garretson
SERIES HISTORY
This is the first of two meetings between the teams this season. The Warriors swept two games last season, winning by a combined 73 points, and are 5-1 against the Pacers in the Steve Kerr era.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
BALL SECURITY: The Warriors have committed 18 turnovers over the past two games, the second-fewest of any two-game stretch this season. They'll need to be careful again, as the Pacers rank third in forcing turnovers (14.7 pg), second in points off turnovers (18.3) and fifth in fast-break points (14.7).
RHYTHM SEEKERS: After missing five games over a two-week period, David West is regaining his timing. McCaw, who missed 13 games over five weeks, is further behind but finding his aggression. If West can get back to his previous level and McCaw finds his efficiency, the Warriors are appreciably better.
IGUODALA'S O: Iguodala's value is in his all-around impact at both ends. But with so much scoring on the sideline, his shot matters. He understands, which partly explains why he was 4-of-5 from deep on Sunday, the first time he buried four triples in one game since March 6 of last year.
